Thursday morning, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) Executive Director Randy Picht told RJI staff during a fall meeting, “It’s a great day to be at RJI.” I would echo that and also add, “It’s a great day to be a journalist.”

The University of Missouri announced Thursday that it has received a $30.1 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to guarantee permanent funding for the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute.

On behalf of the board of trustees of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, it is a privilege to be here with you to celebrate this gift, a gift which will support the pioneering efforts of the Reynolds Journalism Institute in perpetuity.

A transformational gift does not arrive overnight. Nor does it come as the result of the work of one or two individuals. My task this morning is to thank some of the many people who made this day possible.